France is undertaking a extensive, multi-billion euro initiative to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and patient quality of life, with its national cancer institute, the Institut National du cancer (InCa), reporting on the progress of its 2021-2025 strategy. the aspiring plan, representing a €1.74 billion investment over five years, has already launched over 200 programs focused on four key pillars: prevention, quality of life, fighting aggressive cancers, and equitable access to care. This report details recent developments in screening programs for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers, and also advancements in HPV vaccination efforts across the country.
France’s national cancer institute, the Institut National du Cancer (InCa), recently outlined the progress of its 2021-2025 strategy to combat cancer, a plan that represents a significant investment in improving prevention, treatment, and quality of life for patients. The multi-year initiative has launched over 200 programs, representing nearly 90% of planned actions, with €1.74 billion allocated for the first five years.
The 4 Pillars of France’s Cancer Strategy
Table of Contents
- Improving prevention
- Limiting side effects and enhancing quality of life
- Fighting cancers with poor prognoses
- Ensuring progress benefits everyone
A key focus of the InCa’s work is bolstering prevention and screening programs, with some initial successes already being reported. These efforts are particularly important as early detection remains a critical factor in improving cancer outcomes.
Streamlining Cancer Screening Invitations
France’s national cancer institute is working to increase participation rates in organized screenings for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. To that end, the organization has recently reorganized the process of inviting eligible patients for these screenings.
The national health insurance system, Assurance Maladie, has taken over sending invitations and follow-up reminders, a responsibility previously held by the regional cancer screening coordination centers (CRCDC). While the transition is still underway, the full impact of this change is still being evaluated.
Colorectal Cancer Screening Participation Remains Stable
Despite new options for accessing colorectal cancer screening kits – including online ordering and availability at pharmacies – participation rates have not significantly increased. In 2023-2024, participation remained stable at 29.6%, falling short of the European recommendation of a minimum 45% threshold.
“The signs we are observing are still encouraging,” said Dr. Jérôme Viguier, “and new approaches are being considered to increase participation in this screening.”
Cervical Cancer Screening Shows Improvement
Participation in cervical cancer screening is trending upward, with 60.9% participation in 2024 compared to 55.8% in 2023 and 50.7% in 2019. This increase suggests that ongoing efforts to promote screening are having a positive effect.
Looking ahead, the InCa plans to make self-administered vaginal swab kits available for HPV testing. “This is an additional, effective screening method for detecting HPV,” explained the InCa’s medical advisor. “It has been tested in some departments with encouraging results as a complement to current strategies. The details of implementation are still being finalized.”
Furthermore, the launch of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in middle schools in 2023 has yielded positive results. In 2024, 48% of 16-year-old girls and 24.5% of boys had received two doses of the vaccine, compared to 41.5% and 8.5% respectively in 2022. Nicolas Scotté, Director of the InCa, stated, “We are awaiting validation of the catch-up vaccination against HPV for people aged 19 to 26, regardless of their sex and sexual orientation, as recommended by the High Authority for Health.”
Challenges Remain in Breast Cancer Screening
Participation in organized breast cancer screening saw a slight decrease in 2024, with 46.3% participation among the target population. However, Dr. Viguier cautioned against overinterpreting the numbers, noting that opportunistic screening – where individuals seek screening independently – adds an estimated 10 to 20% additional participation depending on the region. “This opportunistic screening somewhat diverts from the organized system. Among the reasons, radiologists are not very satisfied with the rate set for organized screening. Furthermore, the number of radiologists is decreasing, and access to qualified professionals is therefore complicated.”
Lung Cancer Screening Pilot Program to Launch in 2026
The pilot program for lung cancer screening, titled “Impulsion,” is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026. The InCa Director General clarified that “the first inclusions are not planned before early March. So far, setting up the system has allowed for the identification and training of the professionals involved and the design of a smoking cessation program. Currently, 5 regions are involved: Île-de-France, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Hauts-de-France and Pays de la Loire. Approximately 20,000 participants are planned for the first year.”
Looking Ahead to 2026-2030
The second roadmap for 2026-2030 will be unveiled on February 4, 2026, under the high patronage of the President of the Republic, to continue the planned work and announce new initiatives. This continued commitment signals France’s dedication to reducing the burden of cancer and improving outcomes for its citizens.
